Lego Minecraft Bumble Bee Set for My Son's Birthday

Lego released a Minecraft bumble bee set, and I bought it for my son's birthday.  (One of the gifts he got) 

Lego Minecraft Bumble Bee Set

The bees look very cute and my kids liked it!  I think you get 7 or 8 bees with it.

The Birds Love This Bird Swing

My wife got this bird swing for the birds to play and eat food on the platform.

As you can see from the picture, the chickadees and Finches love it! 

They are sharing space in the picture below:

Chickadee and Finch on bird swing

They like to hop up and down and go around playing.

New Super Mario Bros Products!

I have always been a big super mario bros fan since I was small.  I have always wished we had as many toy selections as the kids now.  They are lucky!

We had nothing like these new toys.  The one below emulates the mario game scenaries:

Super Mario Game Toys

It was kids' dream back then to have these ones to play with or to at least display on desks.

back of mario toy package

I actually bought a few of these to let me kids play and display in the room.

There are also constantly new mario kart toys coming out like these ones:

New Mario Kart Pull back kart 2014

I have bought many mario kart toys, so I don't think I will be buying these full price.

Mario and Yoshi new karts 2014

Again, lucky kids nowdays, but I guess things continue to progress, my kids will say the same thing to their kids.

Lego Store Again: Lego Architecture, Lego Sushi, Fast Food and Parisian Restaurant

In February, we went to the Lego Store in Surrey again because I wanted to get the Eiffel Tower from the Lego Architecture series.

I love unique historical buildings that represent cultures and style.
The series started to release famous buildings around the world for the users to build and decorate their rooms.

Lego Architecture Series Eiffel Tower, Tower of Pisa
UN Building, Japan Emperial Hotel

They also had lots of interesting things on display, which might give kids idea if they have lots of pieces and special parts.

For example, check out the sushi set:

Lego Sushi Set Japanese Restaurant

Using some unique parts, they recreated sashimi dishes, sushi rolls and chopsticks.

How about the lego McDonald's set:

Lego Fast Food set McDonald's Hamburger

Well, they did not have a 'M' for McDonald's.  They just use a 'Y' on the fries. haha.

I do think it is a good idea or sample if the users have lots of flat parts with different colors.

I think a collector will have to be relative wealthy to spend thousands of dollars for all the parts.

Lego Movie display

They also have the Lego movie sets on display.

Lego Store Parisian Restaurant

I really like the Parisian streets.  They are just beautiful and nicely preserved.  

This restaurant set sort of recreates some of those feelings...

Sometimes, Lego feels like an high end toy collection just like Apple products.  If you can afford it, you will buy it.  Their big sets goes for hundreds of dollars...just like iPad or iPhones....

The Lego Architecture sets are smaller and more affordable: around 50 dollars.

They are even cheaper in Asia...probably around 40 dollars.

I will see if I have space in my small place to buy more sets...probably not.

Lego: Valentine Heart House with Mushrooms in the Garden

We brought the kids out to Lego Store in Surrey's Guildford Centre.

It is actually our first time in Guildford Centre and could not believe how spacious it is.
I was not familiar with the mall and had a hard time navigating through the crowd.

Anyway, we got some pieces through the "all you can stuff" can.  (about 20 dollars plus taxes)

My wife built this small beach house with heart on top....just in time for Valentine's Day. haha

Lego Heart Valentine Beach House Garden

We also bought a monthly mini build set that includes a gardening family, trees and 3 mushrooms.
The mushrooms looked cute,and that is why we got it.

It is hard to spot the mushroom in this picture.

I think I want to go back soon because we don't have enough basic pieces.

Lego Sorting Trays for Special Parts

People say kids would like what parents like.  My kids started to get a taste of Lego's basic sets.

We found these sorting trays in Fred Meyer's in Washington State, and they are very useful in sorting all the basic and special Lego parts.

Lego Sorting Trays for special parts

Christmas Gifts: Innotab and Mario Kart 7

I bought my two kids Christmas gifts that they have to learn how to share.

They are loving these gifts.  It is still a little early for my 2-year-old to play the kids tablet.

Inno Tab and Mario Kart 7

They are loving the tablet, Innotab 2, right now because they can buy different learning games such as Mickey Mouse or Cars or all kinds of other children animations.

My older kid loves to play Mario.  I try not to let him play during the weekdays though because I know it is not good for kids to play that much.

I hope this has been a good Christmas for my kids, and I think they had a lot of fun!

Super Mario Kart Wii: K'Nex

My best friend gave me a gift card for my son's birthday.

I was thinking what to get....because my son is such a mario fan, we decided to get a Mario Kart set from K'Nex. 

Apparently, you need to buy 4 sets to make a giant track.
However, I don't have space, so I am content with a small set anyways.

mario wii beach set

I bought the beach set, and it came with a cute crab and a motorized toad kart.

I am still debating whether to get other sets because it is not entertaining my two sons as much as I thought....

It is very cute though! (some parts are too small for small kids.)

McDonald's Paul Frank Figure and Calendar

I can't believe it is October already.  A year passes by so fast.

Paul Frank is famous for designing "Julius" the monkey on its fashion lines.

Early September, if people buy happy meals, they can choose one of Paul Frank's stationary for kids.

We got a cute figure and a desk calendar!

Paul Frank McDonald's Happy Meal toy calendar

I think it is quite cute and in McDonald's standard, well made.
They should be making more of these instead of those rough, cheap, ugly toys.

Play-Doh and Very Hungry Caterpillar for Kids

We recently bought Play-Doh for our kids to play with in the winter.

In Canada, the winter is long and cold, so this could be one thing to do for kids.

Play-Doh from Toys R US

My wife made a Very Hungry Caterpillar replica using Play-Doh for my son.

However, my 1-year-old just crushed it with two hands in two minutes....what a pity!!

Play-Doh Very Hungry Caterpillar

Isn't it cute??

Lego Store Vancouver: October Halloween Set

It is amazing that many stores started to sell costumes and Halloween themed items in the middle of summer.
I guess all the merchandise will have to be there for 3 months for these "big" commercialized events.

We went to Lego Store at the end of August because they had a free give away event.
However, when we arrived on time, more than 100 kids already walked away with the free build.

We were like, "what the...people really had nothing to do"...well, it is summer and everyone wanted free stuff.

Halloween set lego store 2012

We thought that we will still get some things.
Lego store released this Halloween set for merely 5 dollars.
I also got a keychain and some mini figures that day.

The weather is getting cooler now.  I can't believe that fall is almost here.

Lego Hong Kong Display in Aberdeen Centre, Richmond, BC

The Canadian Lego Architect has built a replica of downtown Hong Kong in Aberdeen Centre.

It is amazing how he could have done it with a few photographs.  Just amazing....
The imaging ability of his brain must be so exceptional.

Lego Hong Kong display aberdeen centre richmond

I wish I can do that....

lego Hong Kong display aberdeen centre richmond 2

Here are pictures from other angles:

lego hong kong display aberdeen centre richmond 3

Even the backgrounds are made with lego pieces!

My Birthday Gift 2012: Kipling Shoulder Bag

I received a black Kipling bag for my birthday this year.

Kipling is known for its canvas bags and its mascot gorillas.

This shoulder bag with handles is perfect for my work and can fit a lot of things in there.
It also has front, back and inside pockets. (very good for carrying small things).

Kipling black bag shoulder

I like bags with different compartments to keep things tidy.
This actually completes my collection because I have two black bags in different sizes.
I like the monkeys because they look cute to me. haha.

New Lego Store Vancouver Part 2: Monster Fighters Series

One of the new series that I found was interesting was the Monster Fighters Series:

Lego store vancouver: Monster Train

I find the theme was very interesting and not something Lego has done before; monsters and ghosts.

Lego Monster fighters series display

It looks like an intriguing series and I hope they expand on the stories.

New Lego Store Vancouver 1

Lego opened a new Lego store in Vancouver store this year, the first in west coast Canada.

I often wondered, would people pay regular price to buy things in Lego Store instead of discount retailer?
The answer:  Yes, they do....and lots of people have money.  (including the super rich.)

A grandpa was looking into the window (the picture below) of two european building sets.
He was with two grand daughters.  He was saying to the grand daughters, "Okay, this one and this one.  Five hundred dollars?  Okay, we'll get it."  (nodding to the shopkeeper).

Lego European building sets.

I guess rich grandparents would spend the money these day and age.
Lots of other parents are buying sets after sets for their kids as well.
The store does sell sets that you don't often find outside:

london tower bridge lego

Things like London Tower Bridge and the Architecture series:

Lego architecture series

Lego Maersk trucks train

Lego mini figures

Lego super hero series

Lego princess series

They have so many kinds of series nowdays to cater to all age and all types of adults and kids.
One day, I will try to get some architecture sets because they look very impressive.

I will write more about the Lego store trip.

Toy Snake Bought from Seattle Zoo

During the trip to Seattle Zoo, I asked my son what he wanted for souvenir.
He said, "toy snake!"

I thought you can get this anywhere, but oh well, he likes it...haha

Toy Snake from Seattle Zoo

We put a ribbon on top of its head to make it cuter and not as scary.

Tomy Car USA and Toyota Harrier (Lexus RX 350)

During the Oregon Trip, I discovered two little things while buying toys for my kids.

Tomy Car actually make toys for North America as well but it is not as popular.
North Americans are less accepting of "Tomy"'s product because USA has its traditional companies' toys.

Tomy Car gas station and toyota harrier lexus

Not sure why but Asians and Europeans love Tomy's products!

Tomica box USA

Another small thing I found is that Toyota Harrier, included in the box, is actually Lexus RX series.
I guess Lexus is really just a name change for Toyota's higher product line....

Harrods Bear with Hello Kitty Clothes from Build a Bear Workshop

If you have been to the United Kingdom, then you have heard of Harrods.
It is the famous symbolic luxury department store of UK.
(Things in there are really expensive!)
http://www.harrods.com/

We bought the famous Harrods bear (well made with magnets inside) and we put on the Hello Kitty outfit from Build A Bear Workshop.  www.buildabear.com

Harrods Bear with Hello Kitty outfit from Build a bear workshop

We got a one piece skirt and Hello Kitty shoes for her.
We might get her a hair accessory for her later.

Hello Kitty clothes on Harrods bear from build a bear workshop

Did you know that Harrods bear can have different poses and expressions because its hands and mouth
has magnet inside?

I was very surprised to discover that!
I guess that is why it was expensive...

Hello Kitty shoes for bear from build a bear workshop

Seattle Zoo Gift Shop: African Kids Toy from Kenya

Seattle Zoo has several toys and African musical instrument from Kenya for purchase.

They actually have African drums, colorful musicial eggs and sanza (African thumb piano).

Kids toy Kenya from Seattle Zoo

I wanted to buy more African things, but that would be for my own collections.
I think the kids would be happier if I buy them gifts downtown Portland, so I saved the thought.

I only bought the kids toy above...made in Kenya.

Toys R Us Canada: Free Lego and Duplo Easter Bunny Building Event

Toys R Us has special events at least 8 times a year.
A couple of times a year, they are Thomas the Train events, and the rest are Lego building events.
(They are usually for Mother's Day, Father's day, Spring, Winter...etc.  Search my other Lego blogs.)

Today's Lego and Duplo building event is for Easter Bunnies!  (Chicks for toddlers and babies.)

Lego Duplo free event toys r us Easter Bunny and chick

It think it is great that they have these special events.
Lego is expensive but you can get free pieces by attending these events. 

The kids can get entertained, too.
In the future, the kids can utilize the special parts to make other creative things.

Toys R Us free Lego event Easter bunny and chick

I wonder when is the next event...